What is GF-6 and PC-11? Or Upcoming engine oil changes!

What is GF-6 and PC-11? Or Upcoming engine oil changes!

What is GF-6 and PC-11?

Or Upcoming engine oil changes!

You may have seen, heard, or read about future changes in engine oils and wondered “Why?” It all has to do with the Clean Air Act and air quality. There are still major air quality issues in large cities and now in developing countries. The major polluter has been identified as the internal combustion engine, both gasoline and diesel.

CAFÉ

The U.S. Congress has set a goal of 50 mile per gallon for CAFÉ ( Corporate Average Fuel Economy) by 2025 for light trucks and automobiles. This means that by 2025 the average fuel economy for all of the light duty truck and cars made that year must be 50 miles per gallon of better. Automakers are working hard to reduce overall vehicle weight, increase power density (more power from smaller engines), and improve fuel economy without sacrificing safety.

One of the ways to improve fuel economy is to reduce oil viscosity thereby reducing hydrodynamic friction between moving parts. In April 2013 the SAE introduced 12 and 16 viscosity grades. So in the future you will see some XW16 and XW12 engine oils available. For example: 0W16 engine oil. Cars and light duty trucks will have CVT (Continuous Variable Transmissions), or 6 to 9 gears and either Turbo charged Gasoline Direct Injection ( TGDI) or Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine, currently most gasoline engines are Port Fuel Injected (PFI).

What is GF-6 and PC-11?

The plan is to have new engine oil technology ready to launch in 2017, the problem is that both the gasoline and diesel testing protocols are out dated and need to be changed. The gasoline spec (GF-6) needs 6 new engine tests that have to be confirmed and verified and the diesel spec (PC-11) needs 5 new engine tests. All of these have to be agreed upon by SAE, the OEM’s, and the approval committees.

Part A and a Part B

Both the GF-6 and the PC-11 specifications will have a Part A and a Part B.

The Part A oils will be backward compatible with older engines. These oils will be in current viscosity grades with protection for current and older engine.

The Part B oils will be for use with 2017 engines and newer and will include the 0W16 viscosity oils for gasoline engines and 10W30 or lower for diesel engines. These Part B oils will be mostly synthetic and have to be fortified with special additive packages to protect engine parts, prevent rust, sludge, and oxidation, and provide better fuel economy. Part B oils will NOT be backward compatible with older engines; they can be used in 2017 engines and newer only.

Other changes you may see in newer cars are particulate traps, lower viscosity gear and transmission oils, more sensors, and more hybrids.

As technology and specification change, you can count on Team SWEPCO to keep you and our products up to date. Stay tuned of more changes and new products.